University of Northern Colorado has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

The policy prohibits any action that is motivated by bias. Actions that are motivated by bias include any act, display or communication by which the actor intends or threatens to intimate [sic] or harass another person, including disrupting normal University activities or a student’s focus on academic or other legitimate University pursuits, or to damage the property of another person, because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation.

Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, including one’s self.

…

Harassment, which consists of any verbal, visual, written or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it adversely affects, or has the purpose or logical consequence of interfering with any student’s educational program or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment within the University community.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when: … such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.

Unacceptable uses that are prohibited include, but are not limited to the following: … Unlawful communications, including threats of violence, obscenity, child pornography and harassing communications … The intentional propagation of computer “worms”, “viruses”, activities that place undue stress on resources such as ending chain letters, “spam” or widespread dissemination of unsolicited email and letter bombs or the resending of the same email repeatedly to one or more recipients ….

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome, gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, limiting or denying someone the ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s educational program. The unwelcome behavior may be based on power differentials, the creation of a hostile environment or retaliation.

Hostile Environment

Unwelcome sexual conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of education or employment and creates an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or offensive. The determination of whether an environment is “hostile” must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include the frequency of the conduct, its severity, and whether it is threatening or humiliating.

The University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) has decided it’s time to prohibit “Bias Motivated Incidents.” When you hear about a “bias motivated incident,” maybe you’re thinking about a cross burning, or something of that nature. But at UNCO the “bias motivated incident” could simply be an “inappropriate joke” that is motivated by some form of bias. The UNCO policy also says that “Any discriminatory act is a violation of the Housing & Residence Life Student Code of Conduct.” Well, what do they mean by “any discriminatory act”? According to the UNCO handbook this includes, but is not limited to, “racism, […]

FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for January 2010: the University of Northern Colorado. The University of Northern Colorado’s (UNCO’s) Residence Handbook prohibits “Bias Motivated Incidents,” which include any “inappropriate jokes” that are motivated by bias. The policy also provides that Any discriminatory act is a violation of the Housing & Residence Life Student Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to racism, ageism, sexism, and/or homophobia. This includes intentionally, recklessly or negligently causing physical, emotional, or mental harm to any person. (Emphasis added.) It is a fundamental legal—and moral—principle that laws must “give a person of ordinary […]